Old World Sanctuary: The Sanchaya Bintan

Located on the pristine sands of Lagoi Bay, The Sanchaya Bintan offers luxurious trappings amid a romanticised décor of traditional Asian elements and colonial touches.

Sanskrit for ‘collection’, The Sanchaya Bintan is a 21-villa and 9-suite luxury beachfront resort that weaves Thai silk, Indonesian woodwork and other Southeast Asian motifs into its rich décor.

The Sanchaya Bintan makes its hospitality felt the moment you disembark at Bintan Island—the resort’s VIP lounge at the Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal allows you to take a short rest in its lacquered wood and plush furnishings before you proceed to immigration and customs clearance.

The sanchaya bintan’s welcoming lobby

As you make your way to The Bar for a refreshing tipple, you’d notice its romanticised, old world atmosphere: maritime posters and steering wheels emphasise a 19th century seafaring theme, while vintage euphoniums and a teak bar counter add rustic elegance to the vibe. Order a bespoke cocktail with the bartender, or try asking for a potion made with Brooklyn Gin, a small batch Brooklyn gin flavoured with hand-peeled citrus and juniper. The Library, on other hand, is a history buff’s little corner as it is home to Southeast Asian art manuals and travelogues—all available for your perusal.

For oenophiles, the 400-label wine cellar, Decanter will not disappoint. A part of The Sanchaya Bintan’s centrepiece beachfront manor The Great House, Decanter comes complete with wines from France, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Italy, Argentina, New Zealand, and Indonesia.

The sanchaya bintan’s comfortable dining room

In the vein of local tradition, every morning, the Jamu Gendong lady will offer guests a freshly brewed drink with medicinal properties, made with local spices and indigenous root-tubers and based on ancient recipes passed on from generation to generation. In The Dining Room’s cosy and homey space, enjoy teas like Ronnefeldt and The Sanchaya Blend (tea leaves harvested by small-scale farmers in Eastern Nepal) from fine bone China teacups.

The great house suite bedroom

A stone’s throw away from the 50-metre infinity pool, the Tasanee Grill specialises in Thai style cuisine. Savour Bangkok street cuisine of yesteryears, with fresh seafood and Thai delights arranged in two baskets suspended from a pole on the waiter’s shoulders.
“Our kitchens only use the freshest produce, and dishes are created in a manner as to bring out the maximum flavour in each ingredient,” says food and beverage director-executive chef Giacomo Turzo. “At The Sanchaya, our residents dine when they wish to, rather than being governed by restaurant timings.”